Cigar-moistener



(No Model.)

gocce Unteren STATES PATENT Ormea.,

ALBERT ALFORD, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

ClGAR-MOISTENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 493,347', dated March 14, 1893.

Application filed September 16, 1892. Serial No. 446,073. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT ALFORD, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cigar-Moisteners, of which the following is a specification.

The obj ect of the invention is to provide an improved moistening device to be placed in the bottom of a cigar box for moistening the cigars contained therein. Y

I have illustrated the invention in the accompanying drawings in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a box with the moistening device partly withdrawn. Fig. 2 is a cross section on line x-x of Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a plan view of a slightly modified form of moistener as applied to an ordinary cigar box.

The box 5 is slightly deeper than the ordinary form of cigar box, and is provided with a false bottom 6, thus providing a compartment 7, in the bottom of the box in which the moisteningdeviceisinserted. The moistener 8, is composed of two water containing receptacles 9, 9, connected at the outer end by a passage way 10, and a strengthening piece or rib l1 extending across the end and projecting slightly beyond the receptacles on each side. The receptacles 9, 9, are preferably struck from a single piece of sheet metal, the upper half of one of the receptacles being formed from the portion of the sheet metal taken or bent over from the space between the two receptacles, and the upper half of the other receptacle being formed from the portion of the sheet metal which is bent over from the outside and soldered or clinched upon the inner edge. The passage way l0 is also formed of sheet metal with its ends soldered or clinched to the inner edges of the receptacles as at 10 at which points openings are formed to the interior of the receptacles and thus free passagewayis allowed to the fluid from one receptacle to the other. The two receptacles thus formed are adapted to accurately fit the compartment 7, to prevent any loose motion. The strengthening rib 11 is also formed of a strip of sheet metal which has its edges bent over and soldered to each face of the receptacles and the connecting passage- Way. The ends of the rib extend or project outwardly a short distance on each side, corresponding to the thickness of the sides of the box, against the ends of which they bear, the outer face of the rib thus coming llush with the end of the box for its whole length, and forming a smooth continuous surface.

The receptacles are provided with a series of holes or perforations l2 which are punched from the upperl surface inward, as shown more clearly in Fig. 2. By thus punching the material inward instead of boring or drilling the holes, they each have a circular wall or ridge surrounding and extending inward from the opening as at 12". The device is filled by placing it in a dish containing sufficient water to overflow the upper surface of the receptacles, when the water will pass in through the openings until the receptacles areiilled when it is removed and placed in the bottom of the cigar box. The false bottom of the box is provided with a number of perforations 6a, which are preferably formed, as shown in two rows or groups corresponding to the two receptacles, the central portion of the false bottom over the space between the two receptacles being left intact. I prefer to form the perforations Gn elongated as shown in the drawings and extending longitudinally of the bottom. The liquid contained in the receptacles will slowly evaporate and the moisture pass up through the perforations in the receptacles, and through the openings in the false bottom and will keep the cigars moist and fresh. Should the box be inclined,orshaken,the walls formed by punching inthe material of the receptacles in forming the holes will prevent the liquid from escaping and will retain it within the receptacles, allowing only what evaporates to escape.

In Fig. 3 the receptacles are formed somewhat shorter, and the strengthening rib extends only to the outside edges of the receptacles, and thus the lnoistener may be placed in the bottom of an ordinary form of cigar box, thus dispensing with the necessity of having a specially formed box.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim isl. In combination with a cigar box, a moistener having two receptacles of sheet metal with perforations in the upper surfaces thereof, and a connecting strip at the outer end, substantially as described.

ICO

2. In combination with a cigar box, a moistener consisting of two receptacles of sheet metal with perforations in their upper surfaces, with a passageway connecting said receptacles, substantially as described.

3. In combination with a cigar box having a perforated false bottom, a sheet metal revceptacle adapted to fit the chamber vbeneath said false bottom, said receptacle comprising the two chambers perforated on their upper surfaces, a passageway connecting said cham- 

